Continuing the previous part of my experience of working on the part time job in England. Click here, to read the previous part.
Some minutes went by and disaster happened. Each of us were having two in-line orders in front of is and suddenly the flow of beer stopped in one tap, we were expected that as the flow of incoming beer was weak. It was informed to Anne as she too was busy in serving someone. Since people were lined up and it was too much rush, we called up the event manager and alerted them for this delay. People standing in front of the counter started getting mad because of the delay. They started yelling. Many of the customers especially the females were starting to get little bit zonked out, and few started sounding like maniacs but few were patient enough to stop for the technical difficulty. Soon the second beer tap gave up to flow and we announced ‘Beer's not available!’ A wave of disappointment was felt in the crowd. Positively we had a breather and pleasant break and had a look at the time. The first race of the day was approaching. All the people in hall were now busy in the race and were standing near window. Even though we have had constant order coming up; It was kind of ‘ I got the life back’ feeling.
Within few minutes, the race was finished. The excitement was evident on few people’s faces. Most people were not surprised as they expectedly lost a lot. There were quite a bit of people who tried not to look disappointing. The boyfriends & husbands looked a little bit irritated by the fake & dramatic consolation behaviour offered to them by respective girlfriends and wives. In this process we were now mentally recovered and got prepared for the next round of rush. In the mean time the beer taps started now working with full possible force, better than the last time. It was huge sigh of relief but the next few minutes were the toughest.
It was a major flock of people then ran into the counter to ask for the beer. Few of those were already drunk now, as we noticed that when they started raising their voices a bit. It was okay for us as we prepared for these sorta things. The mob standing in front us looked like the assembly of annoyers. It was intimidating, but we all kept our cool, and concentrated on our work. It had been a while I must have prepared at-least two hundred different drinks within 2-3 hours and I was so engrossed and concentrating on the job that I have not seen anything except the liquor and faces of customers. After a while I thought lets see how the team is doing. I noticed everyone in a jiffy - running and looking for something. My neck was up, only after a while and everyone I saw were working like robots. . . working on command. Anne was busy assisting somebody and in the mean time she was inspecting the availability of smaller currency in a till as a change. She called someone and requested for few pennis and pounds. I saw one fully drunken man intimidating Steven, my Brit team mate. Steve didn't really hear what he said. The fellow shouted at him; pointing at his girlfriend, hey you, is that your hag? Why dontya pay attention to me? Steve lost his patience and out of irritation said in a low voice, “fuck off you maggot . . I’ll ring yer neck!” Sensing the danger I took Steve away from the fellow. . and told him to be calm. Few blokes witnessing the incidence started smiling and laughing about it. I completed the fella's orders. Things calmed down after a while. Later, a smallish currency bag came and we emptied it in one till. The second funny incidence was in store involving me.
This old man - pretty drunk was standing there for a while. I looked at him to get his drinks. ‘hey you get me two lager!, he arrogantly order. I got him 2 pints as fast as I could and I asked for 8 bucks bill. He handed over me 50 pound note. I hurriedly opened the till. Receipt was printed. I was in the question mark what to do now as there was not enough cash in the till to give as a change. Although the transaction had to be completed only in one till; I still went to the second cash till which was filled by the lot of coins and Penney but there were not enough currency notes. Few people were impatiently calling me to attend for their orders and I was trying to concentrate to solve this puzzle about the change I had to give. The mans arrogance was ever increasing. It was pressure cooker moment. I went back to the gentleman and asked if he has change. He wanted me to hurry up and started getting louder. I looked at my team mates, everyone was terribly busy. I gathered myself and firmly headed to the till where I was sure I can gather 42 pounds. I saw one & two pounds coins in the till. I kept the 50 pounds note in it, started counting the coins quickly. I did not have any other option. I collected coins. . boy . . it must be forty plus! Those were hand(s)ful! I firmly and carefully walked paying my attention to the coins in my hand. I sensed an upset feeling from the old fellow. I looked in the eye of the gentleman from my tightly fit cap and said, I am extremely sorry sir, but as you saw I don't have any other option, and gave him the mess of forty plus coins in hurry. He ruffled, infuriated at me; and man! He was pissed at me. He got wilder when people standing around him started smirking and grinning about the incidence. He started shouting all sorts of things and was pointing at me. I did only thing I could have done, I conveniently ignored the person and concentrated on next task. I did not noticed but he eventually must have calmed down. Later on when things started to slow down one bloke told me ‘ whatever you have done to the person, is very well done and he should not behaved like this with you hardworking people.” “Oh, that was not intentional, you saw i really didn't have notes!’, I tried to explain, but I thought I have enough things to do. I still smile about this incidence when I remember it.
Within few minutes, the race was finished. The excitement was evident on few people’s faces. Most people were not surprised as they expectedly lost a lot. There were quite a bit of people who tried not to look disappointing. The boyfriends & husbands looked a little bit irritated by the fake & dramatic consolation behaviour offered to them by respective girlfriends and wives. In this process we were now mentally recovered and got prepared for the next round of rush. In the mean time the beer taps started now working with full possible force, better than the last time. It was huge sigh of relief but the next few minutes were the toughest.
It was a major flock of people then ran into the counter to ask for the beer. Few of those were already drunk now, as we noticed that when they started raising their voices a bit. It was okay for us as we prepared for these sorta things. The mob standing in front us looked like the assembly of annoyers. It was intimidating, but we all kept our cool, and concentrated on our work. It had been a while I must have prepared at-least two hundred different drinks within 2-3 hours and I was so engrossed and concentrating on the job that I have not seen anything except the liquor and faces of customers. After a while I thought lets see how the team is doing. I noticed everyone in a jiffy - running and looking for something. My neck was up, only after a while and everyone I saw were working like robots. . . working on command. Anne was busy assisting somebody and in the mean time she was inspecting the availability of smaller currency in a till as a change. She called someone and requested for few pennis and pounds. I saw one fully drunken man intimidating Steven, my Brit team mate. Steve didn't really hear what he said. The fellow shouted at him; pointing at his girlfriend, hey you, is that your hag? Why dontya pay attention to me? Steve lost his patience and out of irritation said in a low voice, “fuck off you maggot . . I’ll ring yer neck!” Sensing the danger I took Steve away from the fellow. . and told him to be calm. Few blokes witnessing the incidence started smiling and laughing about it. I completed the fella's orders. Things calmed down after a while. Later, a smallish currency bag came and we emptied it in one till. The second funny incidence was in store involving me.
This old man - pretty drunk was standing there for a while. I looked at him to get his drinks. ‘hey you get me two lager!, he arrogantly order. I got him 2 pints as fast as I could and I asked for 8 bucks bill. He handed over me 50 pound note. I hurriedly opened the till. Receipt was printed. I was in the question mark what to do now as there was not enough cash in the till to give as a change. Although the transaction had to be completed only in one till; I still went to the second cash till which was filled by the lot of coins and Penney but there were not enough currency notes. Few people were impatiently calling me to attend for their orders and I was trying to concentrate to solve this puzzle about the change I had to give. The mans arrogance was ever increasing. It was pressure cooker moment. I went back to the gentleman and asked if he has change. He wanted me to hurry up and started getting louder. I looked at my team mates, everyone was terribly busy. I gathered myself and firmly headed to the till where I was sure I can gather 42 pounds. I saw one & two pounds coins in the till. I kept the 50 pounds note in it, started counting the coins quickly. I did not have any other option. I collected coins. . boy . . it must be forty plus! Those were hand(s)ful! I firmly and carefully walked paying my attention to the coins in my hand. I sensed an upset feeling from the old fellow. I looked in the eye of the gentleman from my tightly fit cap and said, I am extremely sorry sir, but as you saw I don't have any other option, and gave him the mess of forty plus coins in hurry. He ruffled, infuriated at me; and man! He was pissed at me. He got wilder when people standing around him started smirking and grinning about the incidence. He started shouting all sorts of things and was pointing at me. I did only thing I could have done, I conveniently ignored the person and concentrated on next task. I did not noticed but he eventually must have calmed down. Later on when things started to slow down one bloke told me ‘ whatever you have done to the person, is very well done and he should not behaved like this with you hardworking people.” “Oh, that was not intentional, you saw i really didn't have notes!’, I tried to explain, but I thought I have enough things to do. I still smile about this incidence when I remember it.
(To be continued . . )
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